Ipswich Town CEO calls for community support in address to leaders
"Never have I been in a football club, or a town, or a wider community, that I feel so passionate about"
Ipswich Town’s CEO has called for community support in an address to leaders.
Mark Ashton, the club’s chairman and CEO, addressed Suffolk’s county councillors during the authority’s meeting yesterday to what might have been the biggest round of applause in the council chamber all year.
He said: “I underestimated this club, I underestimated this town and boy did I underestimate this county when I joined three years ago.
“I’ve had a fantastic career in football — but never have I been in a football club, or a town, or a wider community, that I feel so passionate about or feel so much at home as I do with this amazing club.
“It has heritage, a tradition, a fanbase, a role in this local community the likes of which I have never seen at another football club.”
“There’s something quite magical and special happening at your football club"
Mr Ashton, who joined the club as chief executive in July 2021, said in his last three years, the club had gone from generating £30 million in revenue to £160 million as it progressed into England’s top football division.
But impressive as Ipswich Town’s back-to-back promotions may have been, his speech focused on how to give back to the community.
He added: “There’s something quite magical and special happening at your football club but we have to use it.
“We’re here for the long term and we’re here to build something but this football club is too special, it’s too big, to do it on our own — we can only build sustainable success if we are as one.
“We will work day and night to support this local community — I’m proud to lead the football club, I’m proud to be part of this community and I’m damn proud of being part of this county.”